Humidifying apparatus



' May 9, 1967 P. E. M DUFFEE HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1964United States Patent 3,318,587 HUMIDlFYING APPARATUS Paul E. McDufiee,216 N. Elmwood Drive, Aurora, Ill. 60506 Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No.384,477 6 Claims. (Cl. 261-64) This invention relates to improvement inapparatus for conditioning air such as is used in conjunction with warmair furnaces to produce and maintain desirable moisture conditions inrooms or other enclosures heated by said furnace.

The general object of the present invention is to pro vide an improvedair-conditioning device adapted for use with various air heating meansto produce and maintain a desired moisture content in the heated air.

In patent application Ser. No. 251,116, filed Ian. 14, 1963, by RobertW. McDuifee, now United States Patent No. 3,171,401, there is discloseda novel air-conditioning apparatus for use in humidifying air passingthrough a warm air furnace system. The apparatus is constructed andarranged so that a substantial portion of air passing through thefurnace system is passed directly through a moistened humidifyingelement by means of the blower or air circulating means of the furnace.In that humidifier, the air to be humidified or humidified air can bemade to discharge from the humidifier at the bottom, top or either sidethereof.

The present invention is directed to a humidifying apparatus whichconstitutes an improvement over the humidifying apparatus disclosed inthe above patent application. The humidifying apparatus of the presentinvention is characterized by its compact construction which permits itto be utilized with minimum space requirements. The construction of thisnew compact humidifier unit is such that ready access may be had to themoistened humidifying element so that it may be inspected, cleaned orreplaced if desired.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description and appended claims taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIGURE I is a perspective view of the humidifier apparatus of thepresent invention showing the parts thereof in assembled condition.

FIG. II is a perspective view of the humidifier apparatus of theinvention showing the two major parts comprising the housing inseparated condition.

FIG. III is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. II.

FIG. IV is a plan view of the water distribution pan employed in the newhumidifier apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a humidifyingapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Thehumidifier unit 10 is fabricated of metal such as stainless steel orother suitable material and can be varied in size depending upon thesize and type of furnace system which is used. The unit is of generallysquare form with the housing being formed in two detachable sections;the front section 11 and rear housing section 12 being adapted forrotation relative to each other.

The humidifying unit is attached to the wall of the furnace or ductworksystem by means of screws or the like which project through rectangularslots 13 and 14 provided on opposite sides of the peripheral flange 15on the front of the casing 11. These rectangular slots permit adjustmentof the unit relative to the surface to which it is attached so that itcan be maintained substantially level. A humidifying filter element orevaporating filter pad 16 composed of a porous, air penetrable materialwhich can be maintained in wet condition is held in proper position byabutting against a pair of vertically extending side restraining members17 oppositely disposed on each side of the casing. Each of these siderestraining members is constructed with several rearwardly punchedfingers 18 which locate and maintain the filter element in properposition and particularly prevent lateral displacement thereof. Thefilter element pad 16 is supported on a pair of oppositely disposedbrackets 19 which extend inwardly from each side of the casing 11. Thesebrackets project into the interior of the unit only to a limited extentand do not extend entirely across the filter element since this maypossibly prevent proper drainage of the water therefrom.

A sloping deflector member 20 extends transversely across the unit todirect excess water which may drain from the filter element pad into adrain trough 21 provided in the lower wall of the housing. Excess waterdraining from the filter element pad 16 carries away mineral depositsand escapes through drainpipe 22 in Water trough 21. The water trough 21is removable and is held in place by a pair of screws (not shown). It ispreferable to employ an excess of water to facilitate removal of themineral deposits.

An elongated water distribution pan 24 is adapted to fit within atransverse slot provided on the top surface of the casing section 11. Asseen in FIG. II, the bottom of the water distribution pan 24 abutsagainst the top surface of filter element pad 16 and holds it firmly inplace, with appropriate tension being applied by screws 25. The waterdistribution pan 24 should be maintained level for proper distributionof the water over substantially the entire area of the filter pad. Thisis readily accomplished by proper adjustment of the unit when it isattached to the furnace.

As will be seen in FIG. IV, the water distrbution pan 24 is providedwith a vertically upstanding center strip 26 which has along its upperperiphery a series of spaced generally U-shaped pour spouts 27. Thiscenter strip 26 serves as a weir for the water which is introduced intothe reservoir by means of water conduit 30. A series of spaced ports 32are provided in the bottom of the pan 24 on one side of the center stripthrough which the water flows onto the evaporating filter pad 16. Thewater is normally supplied to the reservoir 33 behind the weir 26, thatis on the side of the weir having the solid bottom. Water flow throughthe conduit is regulated by conventional flow regulating means. Sincethe water flow regulating means form no part of the present invention,it will not be shown or described in detail but will be designatedgenerally by the numeral 34. However, the principal water flowregulating means 34 can be a solenoid valve electrically responsive to ahumidistat of known type whereby water flow is controlled in response tothe atmospheric moisture content of the room or enclosure where thehumidistat is located.

When assembled, the front casing '11 and rear casing 12 are joinedtogether to form a substantially unitary structure. Novel andadvantageous means are provided for joining these two sections.Referring to FIG. II, a peripheral flange 36 extending around theperiphery of the rear surface of the front casing 11 is formed with aregularly interrupted turned or bent terminal portion 38. A series ofregularly spaced interruptions 39 are provided on the flange portion 38.By means of this turned portion 38 and the interruptions 39, the rearsection 12 of the humidifier housing can be slidably interengagedtherewith. To this end, the rear section 12 of the humidifier housing isformed with an inwardly projecting flange 40 having on opposite sidestwo pair of projecting studs 42 0 and 43. These studs 42 and 43 slidablyinterengage the turned flange 38 on the front section 11 of the housing3 and maintain the complete unit in assembled condition. When access tothe filter pad element 16 is desired, the rear section 12 of the casingis readily removed by sliding it so that the studs 42 and 43 move freeof the turned flange 38, that is until the studs'42 and 43 come intoalignment with an interruption 39 on flange 38 permitting the rearsection to be then lifted away from the'front section of the casing. Itwill be noted that the interruptions 39 on flange 38 are regularlyspaced on each of the four sides. Thus it is possible to rotate the rearsection 12 of the casing through 360 so that the port 44 can be disposedat either the top, bottom or either side of the unit when in assembledcondition. Thus, the unit can be installed in the furnace system in anydesired position so.

that the port 44 in rear casing 12 is positioned for up-flow, down-flow,or horizontal flow from either side of the unit.

A damper 46 is provided to control air flow through the port 44. Thisdamper pivots on rod 47 so' that it can be disposed in a positioncompletely closing or completely opening the port 44, or in anyintermediate position. In FIG. III the damper 46 is shown in the fullyclosed position while the dotted lines show its position whenfullyopened. An extension of the rod 47 projecting from the exterior ofthe unit is bent to form handle means 48 for pivoting the damper. Arubber roll-49 on the handle 48 is adapted to roll over the serratedraised-up arcuate portion 52 provided on the casing section 12 to lockthe damper 46 in any desired position. A pair of struts 53 disposed oneach side of the port 44 provide for structural rigidity and thetensioned clips 55, 56 and 57 surrounding projecting through the slots14 on the peripheral flange.

15. As previously indicated, the humidifier can be a mounted so that thedirection of air flow is reversed with the dry warm' air passing firstthrough the humidifying element and exiting through the port 44. Thehumidifier is mounted so as to provide communication between the warmairplenum and cold air plenum of the furnace with the flow of air beingfrom hot to cold. The port 44 can be on either side or. at the bottom orat the top so that the unit is adaptable for use with all types of warmair heating systems, including counterfiow systems.

Assuming that the warm dry air enters the port 44, the damper 46 beingpositioned so as to provide a desired air flow through the unit, the dryair then pass through the wet humidifying filter element 16 and picks upmoisture. The water level in section 33 of water distribution pan 24 iscontinuously replenished from water supply line 30 in response to asignal from a h umidistat or other control means. Water after passingthrough the U-shaped notches 27 in the weir 26 escapes through the ports32 onto the evaporating filer pad 16. Excess water which is not retainedby the evaporating filter pad 16 drains therefrom carrying away mineraldesposits and is permitted to escape through drainpipe 22.

When it is desired to inspect, clean' or change the evaporating filterpad 16 the humidifier unit is easily disassembled. The rear section 12of the casing can be removed by sliding it relative to the front section11 so as to align the studs 42 and 43 with the interruption 39 in flangeportion 38. When so aligned the rear section can easily be lifted off.The evaporating filter pad 16 can be removed by simply loosening thescrews 25 and raising water distribution pan 24, thus permitting the padto be easily withdrawn from the unit.

The principal advantages of the present humidying unit are its highhumidifying capacity, flexibility of mounting pad element can be removedfrom the unit.

Those modifications and equivalents which fall within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims are tobe considered partof the invention.

I claim:

1. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use with' a furnace system whichincludes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatuscomprising a housing formed of frontand rear detachable sections, anevaporating filter pad maintained within one of said housing sectionssubstantially completely closing an opening therein, water distributionmeans maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad fordelivery ofwater thereto, said front housing section having on the rearsurface thereof a peripheral flange member having a regular interruptedbent terminal portion, the rear housing section having a port thereinradially spaced from its axis, said rear housing section being adaptedfor rotation with respect to said front housing section whereby the portcan be variously disposed relative to the opening in said front housingsection, said rear housing section having a.

peripheral flange member thereon provided with regularlyspacedextensions adapted for slidable engagement, with the bent terminalportion ofthe flange member on said front housing section when said rearsection is in more formed of front and rear detachablesections, anevapo-' rating filter pad maintained Within one of said housing sectionssubstantially completely closing an opening therein, water distributionmeans maintained in position 7 above said evaporating filter pad fordelivery of water thereto, said front housing section having on the rearsurface thereof a peripheral flange member having a regular interruptedbent terminal portion, therear housing section having a port thereinradially spaced from its axis,

said rear housing section being adapted for rotation with respect tosaid front housing section whereby the port can be variously disposedrelative to the'opening in said front housing section, a damper elementdisposed within said port adapted to move from a fully closed portposition to a fully open port position and intermediate positionsthereof, said rear housing section having a peripheral flange memberthereon provided withregularly spaced extensions adapted for slidableengagement with the bent terminal portion of the flange member on saidfront housing section when said rear section is in more than oneposit-ion relative to said front section whereby said front and rearhousing sections may be joined to form a substantially unitary structureand means to sup-ply water to said water distribution means.

3. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use with a furnace system whichincludes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatuscomprising a housing formed of front and rear detachable sections, anevaporating filter pad maintained within one of said housing sectionssubstantially completely closing an, opening there in, waterdistribution means maintained in positiouabove said evaporating filterpad for delivery of water thereto, said front housing section having onthe rear surface thereof a peripheral flange member havinga regularinterrupted bent terminal portion, the' rear housing section having aport therein radially'spaced from its axis,

said rear housing section being adapted'for rotationwith respect to saidfront housing section whereby the port can be variously disposedrelative to the opening in said front housing section, a damper elementwithin said port adapted to move from a fully closed port position to afully open port position and intermediate positions thereof,

handle means exterior of said housing for positioning said damperelement, said rear housing section having a peripheral flange memberthereon provided with regularly spaced extensions adapted for slidableengagement with the bent terminal portion of the flange member on saidfront housing section when said rear sect-ion is in more than oneposition relative to said front section whereby said front and rearhousing sections may be joined to form a substantially unitary structureand means to supply water to said water distribution means.

4. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use with a furnace system whichincludes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatuscomprising a housing formed of front and rear detachable sections, anevaporating filter pad supported by a plurality of inwardly projectingbrackets provided in the interior of said front housing section, a Waterdistribution pan maintained in position above the evaporating filter padand in abutting relationship therewith to assist in maintaining thefilter pad in position, said front housing section having on the rearsurface thereof a peripheral flange member having a regular interruptedbent terminal portion, the rear housing section having a port thereinradially spaced from its axis, said rear housing section being adaptedfor rotation with respect to said front housing section whereby the portcan be variously disposed relative to the opening in said front housingsection, said rear housing section having a peripheral flange memberthereon provided with regularly spaced extensions adapted for slidableengagement with the bent terminal portion of the flange member on saidfront housing section when said rear section is in more than oneposition relative to said front section whereby said front and rearhousing sections may be joined to form a substantially unitary structureand means to supply water to said water distribution means.

5. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use with a furnace system whichincludes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatuscomprising a housing formed of front and rear detachable sections, anevaporating filter paid maintained within one of said housing sectionssubstantially completely closing an opening therein, water distributionmeans maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad fordelivery of Water thereto, said front housing section having on the rearsurface thereof a peripheral flange member having a regular interruptedbent terminal portion, the rear housing section having a port thereinradially spaced from its axis, said rear housing section being adaptedfor rotation with respect to said front housing section whereby the portcan be variously disposed relative to the opening in said front housingsection, -a damper element within said port adapted to move from a fullyclosed port position to a fully open port position and intermediatepositions thereof, handle means exterior of said housing section forpositioning said damper element, said rear housing section having aperipheral flange member thereon provided with regularly spacedextensions adapted for slidable engagement with the bent terminalportion of the flange member on said front housing section when saidrear section is in more than one position relative to said front sectionwhereby said front and rear housing sections may be joined to form asubstantially unitary structure, a plurality of tensioned clip membersextending from said rear housing section and peripherally disposed withrespect to said port for frictional connection with a furnace ductworksystem and means to supply water to said water distribution means,

6. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use with a furnace system whichincludes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatuscomprising a housing formed of front and rear detachable sections, anevaporating filter pad maintained within one of said housing sectionssubstantially completely closing an opening therein, water distributionmeans maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad fordelivery of water thereto, said water distribution means comprising anelongated pan divided into two sections by means of an upstanding weirmember, one section of said pan being provided with a plurality of holeson the bottom surface thereof and said upstanding weir member beingprovided with a plurality of spaced pour spouts permitting passage ofwater therethrough, said front housing section having on the rearsurface thereof a peripheral flange member having a regular interruptedbent terminal portion, the rear housing section having a port thereinradially spaced from its axis, said rear housing section being adaptedfor rotation with respect to said front housing section whereby the portcan be variously disposed relative to the opening in said front housingsection, said rear housing section having a peripheral flange memberthereon provided with regularly spaced extensions adapted for slidableengagement with the bent terminal portion of the flange member on saidfront housing section when said rear section is in more than oneposition relative to said front section whereby said front and rearhousing sections may be joined to form a substantially unitary structureand means to supply water to said water distribution means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,656 2/1926Isgrig 126-1 13 2,158,294 5/1939 Long 1261 13 2,268,540 1/1942 Andrews126--113 2,590,779 3/ 1952 Lehmann.

2,806,466 9/1957 Thompson 1261 13 3,074,698 1/1963 Sevald 126l13 X3,105,860 10/1963 Dunn 126113 X 3,209,744 10/1965 Ayres et a1. 126113FRANK W. LU'ITER, Primary Examiner.

HARRY B. THORNTON, T. R. MILES,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A HUMIDIFIER SPPARATUS ADPATED FOT USE WITH A FURNACE SYSTEM WHICHINCLUDES MEANS TO CIRCULATE HEATED AIR, SAID HUMIDIFIER APPARATUSCOMPRISING A HOUSING FORMED OF FRONT AND REAR DETACHABLE SECTIONS, ANEVAPORATING FILTER PAD MAINTAINED WITHIN ONE OF SAID HOUSING SECTIONSSUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY CLOSING AN OPENING THEREIN, WATER DISTRIBUTIONMEANS MAINTAINED IN POSITION ABOVE SAID EVAPORATING FILTER PAD FORDELIVERY OF WATER THERETO, SAID FRONT HOUSING SECTION HAVING ON THE REARSURFACE THEREOF A PERIPHERAL FLANGE MEMBER HAVING A REGULAR INTERRUPTEDBENT TERMINAL PORTION, THE REAR HOUSING SECTION HAVING A PORT THEREINRADIALLY SPACED FROM ITS AXIS, SAID REAR HOUSING SECTION BEING ADAPTEDFOR ROTATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRONT HOUSING SECTION WHEREBY THE PORTCAN BE VARIOUSLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE OPENING IN SAID FRONT HOUSINGSECTION, SAID REAR HOUSING SECTION HAVING A PERIPHERAL FLANGE MEMBERTHEREON PROVIDED WITH REGULARLY SPACED EXTENSIONS ADAPTED FOR SLIDABLEENGAGEMENT WITH THE BENT TERMINAL PORTION OF THE FLANGE MEMBER ON SAIDFRONT HOUSING SECTION WHEN SAID REAR SECTION IS IN MORE THAN ONEPOSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FROMT SECTION WHEREBY SAID FRONT AND REARHOUSING SECTIONS MAY BE JOINED TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY UNITARY STRUCTUREAND MEANS TO SUPPLY WATER TO SAID WATER DISTRIBUTION MEANS.